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Arlo Parks


Born: 2000
Location: London, England
Real Name: Anais Marinho
Genre: Bedroom Pop
Years Active: 2018 -
Way of Working: Singer-songwriter

Essential Releases

Dummy

Sophie EP (2019)

Sure signs of early promise.

Album Title 2

Collapsed in
Sunbeams (2021)

Prize winning debut released during COVID.



Arlo Parks is a young singer from London who writes honestly about her experiences, allowing her art to form organically. It connects with audiences because it's heartfelt and innocent, almost naive.

This is to say that Parks is a singer in touch with herself. To be young is to be inexperienced by definition, but what the singer lacks in maturity is offset with a sweetness and vitality that permeates her music.

Listening to her music is like listening to someone who's truly alive. Gone are the shades of grey that come with middle age, and in their stead is a vibrant sound painted in broad strokes with bright colours.


Skills

*This is a work in progress. Values are subjective.

Emotional Impact

i Does it connect with the heart? What does it make you feel and how much of it?
80

Mental Impact

i Does it connect with the head? Social issues, interesting observations, clever lyrics, similies etc.
55

Originality

i Are they unique? Did they break new ground, use new techniques or create new genres.
65

Artistry

i Using creativity and imagination to present themselves in a unique way. Example, Wu-Tang Clan as Shaolin and Marvel characters etc.
75

Authenticity

i Do they really mean what they say? Is it autobiographical, personal?
95

Live

i Stage presence, working the crowd, performance. Miming, forgetting lyrics reduce this.
80

Production

i Studio techniques. More important for electronic music including hip hop.
85

Musicianship

i Their ability to play individually and as a group. Technical skills. DJing. Freestyling for hip hop.
60

Singing

i Technical attributes.
85

Songwriting

i Storytelling. Cohesive themes. Is the song about something? Stan by Eminem is an example of excellent songwriting.
85

Danceability

i Does it make you move? Do you tap your foot, nod your head or move your whole body?
60

Fun

i Is listening to it a good time? Are the lyrics funny? Depressing themes lowers value.
55

Consistency

i Have they put out good music across their careers. Two good albums and 5 band ones will reduce this value.
70

Range

i Fast, slow, ballads, party jams. Do they go beyond their own genre?
60

Cool

i Laid-back, icy detachment, unflustered.
55

Charisma

i Factors include appearance, force of personality. Elvis making people faint etc.
70

Commercial & Critical Success

Awards >>>

  • Mercury Prize WINNER!: Collapsed in Sunbeams (2021)

Certifications >>>

  • Gold: Collapsed in Sunbeams (2021) - in UK

Charts >>>

  • Collapsed in Sunbeams (2021) #3 in UK

Critics >>>

  • Guardian: Collapsed in Sunbeams (2021) - 50 Best Albums of 2021: #9

CRITICISM

  • Arlo Parks early career success was described by her detractors as giving the UK a much-needed boost after the COVID-19 pandemic. While the country was languishing in lockdowns, Arlo's persistent smile felt out of place to those devastated by the virus. Critics saw her as an industry plant, claiming her happy emergence on the British music scene was too perfectly timed to be coincidental.


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